My Story

I spent many years working with, training, and supporting young people through various jobs, as well as being involved working with and supporting youth in a youth centre. It was here that I realised I had a passion for helping and supporting people impacted by domestic violence, substance abuse, sexual abuse, and physical violence, as well as those exploring and understanding their gender and sexual identity. I decided to begin my education in counselling to go along with my lived experiences. I completed my Bachelor of Counselling, and then my Graduate Certificate of Family Violence Prevention. My experience and ability to connect easily with young people allowed me to refine and strengthen my communication and counselling skills. These specialised and vitally important skills allow me to work with even the most challenging and resistant clients.

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In life, we have many different experiences that cause us to grow and change. We might find ourselves faced with many different challenges, sometimes due to family history, social and cultural conditioning, religious and gender-based beliefs, roles, and biases. As adults, we might find ourselves wanting to break free from this conditioning, or these beliefs, and that can be difficult to navigate or understand within ourselves, the context of our relationships, and our families. We might realise that our gender, relationship, or sexual identity and preferences might be different from what we were taught to believe was “normal”, and as a result, we struggle within ourselves to accept who we are and are unable to live authentically. It was by understanding and experiencing many different struggles in my own life that I realised there was a need to support people who can often be judged and marginalised because they are perceived as “being different” to societal norms.

I work with individuals and couples to navigate the unique challenges faced by those wanting to explore different relationship styles other than the societal standard of a heteronormative monogamous relationship - these relationships might encompass Kink, BDSM, swinging, ethical and consensual non-monogamy, or polyamory - especially those in mixed-orientation and queer relationships. Understanding the unique challenges faced by those wanting to explore open relationships is important. We are often not taught how to communicate in a healthy way in heteronormative relationships, let alone trying to include alternate gender or sexuality dynamics, other people, or extra relationships. So when people are trying to navigate exploring non-traditional relationship styles - whether that is for physical fun only, such as swinging, or when emotions develop unexpectedly between people - they often struggle to communicate effectively about their needs, struggle to understand their role in the changing relationship or how they might want things to look for them and their partner/s. They stumble along trying to understand how the current committed relationship looks or changes after adding in one or more persons to the existing dynamic without tearing apart the happy partnership they already have.

I also specialise in helping people understand the impact of and overcome the trauma they have experienced in life, especially childhood trauma. Trauma can impact the development of the brain and how people learn to survive and function in society. This developmental impact can adversely influence how they interact with others, their ability to trust people, intimate relationships, and their ability to function at work or school. Having been through my own traumatic experiences, I can relate to and understand how devastating these impacts can be on our lives, as well as the hard work it takes to overcome the effects of trauma on a personal level and how that can impact our relationships, both positively and negatively.

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I am a non-judgemental, accepting, sex-positive, ENM/CNM/Polyamory, consensual monogamy, Kink, and BDSM informed, LGBTIQ+ focused, safe, person-centred, trauma-informed therapist who is there to support you through challenging times - whether you might be facing them alone, partnered, or in multiple consecutive or parallel relationships, giving you security, freedom, and confidentiality in the therapeutic space. I have lived experiences that help me understand complex issues and allow me to sit in the room with you without judgment or bias. This gives you the ability to explore and understand the different options that might be available and were previously unknown or not explained to you as viable options, helping you to live happily and authentically as your true self.

PACFA Reg. 27350